Signaling device



oct. 9,1923. Mmm@ F. B. WATKIINS SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4. 1921 2 Sheets-Shea?l l F. E. WATKlNs SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patent d @et 9, i923.

FREDERICK B. 'WATKIN 0l LDS ANGELES', CALFGBHIA.

SGN A1311@ G DEVICE.

Application led January il, w21. Serial No. 434.981.

lle it known that l, Fnnnnnron B. dhrnixs. a citizen of the United States, residing at the city o' Los ngeles, county ot' ,lios ngeles, and State of California, have invented nen' and nsetul improvements in `Qignalinf.;` Devices, ot which the iollowing is a siliecilication.

My invention relates primarily to an electrical automobile signal, and the .firstobject thereof is to produce a signal which when .f'ieived Vfrom any point oli' the compass is instantly interpreted, inde )endent of distance, as to the motion intended. The sec-- ond objectv of the invention isto provide a signal which shows the relative degree of danger and safety to which the observer ol the signal is exposed. rthe third object of my invention :is to provide a compact sional which can be concentratia'l at a conspicuous and vulnerable point olf the automobile and allord protection to this point by producing a signal visible to motorists approaching` rom `all points oit the compass. ythe tourth object ot `my invention is to provide an electrical signal which functions by day as Well as by night. The fifth object is to provide means tor simplicity ot operation.

l accomplish these objects by the signal described herein and illustrated in the accompanying` drawings forming a part hereo't. in which:

Fig. l.y is a sectional view S1, S1 of E?. or vFig. and shows the practically encircling perimeter of glass panels 13.

Fig. 2 is` a sectional eleva-tion S2, S2 ot Fig. l showing one quarter of the signal being` practically one compartment, the other three being' duplicates.`

YFig. 3 a plan View of the switch with the her button on the end of the knifeot the switch removed' showing the upper double pointed contacts.

Fig. 4- is a sectional elevation S4. St ot Fig. l showing the method of supportingr the oscil,latine` switch knife tube l5 and the method ot' tasteningthe double pointed contacts il to the liber cylinder' 4:2 by binding' ,posts 52. Y

5 is a plan et the top and bottom uide plates 5() and 5l ot' the switch.

lli 6 is a general elevation oit' the completo assembly ot the signal viewed Jfrom practically any point of the compass, and shows the glass panelsI 13 which project a lonp,v rectangular band oi light on any vertical plane.

Fig. 'T is an elevation of the circuit maker. Fig'. S isa sectional vieiv'S, S8 of Fig. 7 showing the method ot'tastening,- plate lil in the fiber cylinder42. f

Fig. 9 is an elevation and plan view, a and 7) respectively, ot' a detached contact 4l. lllig. l shows a general Wiring' diagram. T he top and bottom contacts areshown in the same horizontal plane to facilitate show@- .ing the contacts made in giving diiierent signals. Fig. 1l illustrates several observations made by motorists approaching a st-reet crossing when motorist M signals ditlferent intended moves; also, the relative degree of danger and of safety that the signal displays to the observer.

ln the drawings the main body of the signal is comprised of a metal box With top 5, and bottomV 6, and divided intofour equal compartments by the dividing Walls 7, 8, 9 and l0, and preferably octagonal in plan view. The octagonal shape is used yfor simplicity of construction. The ideal signal would have a circular perimeter oit glass. A. cylindrical tube 1l connects the top'- and bottom Walls. The glass panels 13 form the outer sides ot the box.` `Stops 14j are turned from the top and bottom 'Walls and with the aid ot felt packing l keep the glass panels in position. The bottom of each compartment. lpainted black to ab# sorb any sunlight that. might enter below the overhanging hood 16T The other Walls ot each compartment are of polished metal. The surfaces of the glasspanels, and especially the inner, are preferably frosted to aid in" giving' a" uniform `ditlusion "of light. The bands ot feltl) are gloed to each vglassr panel Where it comes in contact with the' metal and protect it 'trom'the same. ln each compartment'there are tivo Ielectric lights 17 and 18, of dil'lerent colors, cither ot ivhich'is capable of stronglyiillnniinating the ivhole compartment? The.

colors used in this case being red'and green. The lower' tour are red. The upper tour lights are ,frreenV -rllhe sockets `l9,'for each set ot tour li glits, areV fastened in manitold plates 20 and 2l.. VThe manifold plates are held' centrallyv by slipping them over the central pipe 24. A hole inthe top and the bottom "of each Veornpartment 'permits the sockets to enter 'the vnonnoartments in their proper positions. Plate Yforms the top of thel compartments. Plate 6 iornis the bottom ot' the compartments. il. bottom casing partly supports the bottom ot the box and has turned up ends ford outer walls tor keeping trie i ing and glass panels in place. lt also protects the lower part of the signal tr n1 the weather. rlhe lower end of casing` 22 rests upon and is supported by plate 28 which is screwed upon the tie pipe 24 thru which the wires`34 pass to the lights. il; hood 16 primarily affords protection against sunlight for the glass panels. besides casting a shadow over them, thus making 1possible the 'functioning of the signal by day as well as"by night. il. flanged octagonal ring 25 -keeps the upper ends ot the glass panels in place. A pierced cap 2G rests upon the top 01": the hood i6 and is held positioned by collar 2T which is soldered to `lpipe 28.

Pipe 28 screws into a connector cap 29.

Cap 29 is screwed upon the top ot the pipe 24. p

In the case of fastening: the signal to the tender of an automobile the plate 23 is bolted: to the vlender 30 by bolts Pipe 24 is screwed into plate 23. Casinpj 22vis then put in place. Sleeve 52 is slipperL over pipe 24 with the holes 33 in pipe 24 and sleeve 32 in register so as to permit connecting wires to run to the bottoni lights. lilani told plate 2O is next put in place. `Connections tothe bottom soclrets are made and then the main box .is slipped over pipe 24. The top manifold 2l is put in place and the cap V29 screwed down. The lights are now put in place'. The panelslollow and thcnthe hood is set on withrthe octaeonal ring` 25 slipped down over the telt packing'. Pipe 28 is then screwed into cap 29 thereby holding the hood firmly in place. Pipe 2S may be allowed to stand several inches above collar 27 to enable'fasteningu a cvanity glass to it7 or to hold dans, etc. lVires 34, one 'from each light socket, run to a switch placed convenient to the 4drifers seat. and are there connected each to a separate contact 41 by bindingv posts 52. The upper contacts are shown in Fie'. The lower contacts are a duplica-te ot the upper ones. The return wires are all grounded and are notvshown. The common return wire to the battery is shown l.giron-.nded to the metal bor( at Z, Fig. l0. rl`he contacts 4l are connected to liber cylinder 42 yby binding posts 52. A metal plate 43 mounted centrally in cylinder 42 and is electricall;T connected by wire/44 to a source of electrical energy. Plate 43 is rigidly 'fastened to cylinder 42 bv binding; post 53 and slots shown in Figs. 'T and 8. .A switch lnizte tube 45 passes thru plate 4? and has a collar 46 above and a square collar 47 below plate 43. A springr 48 rests upon plate 43 and bears against collar 46 thereby normally holding tube 45 out ot contact Vwith the points 4l, with collar enggaoing plate 43, thereby electrig tube with plate 43. A noci' button 49 prevents the current from passingi to the driver when the switch is opn a Cylinder 42 has a liber top 50 and li )er bottoni 5l in each ot which are rightanggled guide-ways to guide tube 45 when the switch is operated. fr bracket 59 is secured to Vcylinder 42 by bolts 55 to facilitate its attachment toa suitable part et the niarhine, which is preferably the steering post. ln using` my signal the division walls '7, 8, and l() are placed parallel to and atright angles to the sides ot the machine X and Y, Fig'. l0. The signal would be placed preferably on the the top ot' the lett front iender. The tender should stand high and well iterw rd so that the sional is easily visible 'from either side as well as troni the 'lront and rear. The signaling' switch is placed that the s iitch lnite tubecan be oscillatedV parallel to and at right anp; es to the sides or' the automobile andY. Fig-(l0.

For a lett turn the top ot the switch knite tube thrown to the lei't. fn Fig, 10 the plan of the contacts g1, g2. g3 and g4, shown at rl"7 r presents the top-contacts of the circuit .inalrer and breaker. A wire connects each one ot these double pointed vcont-acts with a green colored electricI live-ht positioned as shown in Fig; i0. At U, Fig. l0, is shown plan ot the bottoni contacts as seen bv moving the top plan to one side. A n i connects each one oft these lower double pointed contactswith a red colored electric bt positioned in a compartment oi" the signal as shown. ln dotted lines. theswitch knife tube is shown positioned for a turn to the leit. The upper halt ot the switch lrnilie tube takes position L where it makes contact with contacts g2 and g3 thereby causing; current tobc sent thru green lights (l2 an l (l l 'lt side ot the signal and lighting the rigght halt ot the signal green. At the'sanie time the lower hallflo'lE the switch mite tube takes the positionrshown in dotted lines at L', as the tube pivots about the plateV 4?, centrally lor'ated fiber cylinder 42. ln this position li the switch imite tube makes contact with r1 and r4 whereby the red lights and light the lett halt ot the signal. red. rlhere thus produced a band ot light completely encircling the signal. halt` red and haiir gire-cn. The projection oi" this band t' licht on any vertical plane is a longireccannula-r band of lightV as shown by ,Glass anels'l. Fia. 6. The encircling ban' et yQ'ht is divided into two colors by a vertical lane passed thru the center ot the signal. i/lotion is indicated as talrinfr place from the green to the red. The signal observed from iiracticallyfany point.v of the compass dis- 3 positioned in compartments on the llt) .at B and D will seev either one of the four signals gi en by M, and shown b the rectangles l, 3 and l, and be warned ot `he presence an automobile.y thus protecting motorist M. This is especia ly important Y at dark street intersections.

VAt, blind corners, with the signal set on the top ot the lett Jiront tender, it is apparent from the diagram. FigY ll, that the observers B and D will see the signal `given by M before the` driver M comes into view. Automobiles emerging suddenly into view from behind intervening; vehiclesl or objects will indicato. their' intended motion immediately due to the compactness of the signal, located at a conspicuous point and visible from `all points of thev compass.

Having' described my invention I claim l. An electrically operated signaling de` vice comprisingr a housing divided into four equal compartments, two lights m each compartment of different colors,v and a switch adapted to light lights ot one color in any tivo adjacent compartments and of a difierent` color in theother tivo compartments at the same time.

2. An electrically operated signaling device, a housing containing a continuous glass perimeter divi-ded into tour equal compartments, tivo iglits of ditferentcolors in each compartment; and means under the control ot the driver for illuminating any tivo adjacent compartments of the same color and the other tivo compartments of a different color at the same timepvhereby signals, indicating` the intended` movements of thepvehicle. are visible from all points of the compass. Y

An electrically operated signalingdevice comprising a housing divided into tour equalA compartments; means under control ofthe driver of the vehicle VJfor displaying bands of light of tWo colors to indicate the intended movements of' the automobile whereby the relative degree of danger and ot' safety, that the observer of the signal is exposed to, is automatically indicated.

In AWitnessthat I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day ot December, 1920.

FREDERICK B. VVATKINS. 

